Government of Uganda launches new UNDAF and second 5-year National Development Plan

Jun 11, 2015

President Yoweri Museveni jointly launching the new UNDAF and NDPII, shortly before the presentation of the National Budget to Parliament at the Serena Hotel in Kampala. Looking on from left to right is his wife, Mrs Janet Kataha Museveni, Speaker of Parliament Ms Rebeca Kadaga, Minister of Finance Mr Matia Kasaija, National Planning Authority Chair Dr Kisamba Mugerwa, and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Mrs Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie (Photo: New Vision)

KAMPALA - Government of Uganda has today jointly launched the National Development Plan (NDPII) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the country.

Designed to run concurrently from 2016 to 2020, the two development frameworks were launched by President Yoweri Museveni shortly before the presentation of the National Budget (2015/16) to the 5th Session of the 9th Parliament that convened at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

The NDP II is the second in a series of five-year plans, and is designed to achieve Uganda’s Vision 2040. The goal of Vision 2040 is to transform Uganda from a predominantly peasant and low-income country to a competitive upper middle income status over a 30-year period. NDPII prioritises agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, mineral, oil and gas and human capital development.

The UNDAF on the other hand, is aligned to both the medium and long term Development Plans (2015/2019 and Vision 2040) and is focused on achieving transformative results in the areas of Governance, Human Capital Development and Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development. It is based on a theory of change that premises good governance as a pre-condition for achieving quality human capital, which in turn drives sustainable and inclusive economic development.

Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Uganda, described the joint launch of NDPII and UNDAF as symbolic of the UN's longstanding partnership to support the Government to realise Uganda’s development goals sustainably, and ensure that we leave no one behind.

“The UN will support the transformative process by moving away from direct implementation , and focus on providing upstream support, especially in the areas of evidence generation, national capacity development, and creating enabling conditions for people-driven sustainable and inclusive development,” she noted.

Approximately US$ 954.3million is needed to support the delivery of the UNDAF. The NDPII requires a spending of Sh196.7 trillion, of which 113.7 trillion (57.8%) will be drawn from government resources, and Shs83.0 trillion (42.2%) from private sector.

To fast track implementation of the NDPII, Government has institutionalized sector working groups, and will from henceforth compel all accounting officers to sign performance contracts in line with the NDPII results and targets. The National Planning Authority (NPA), which is charged with monitoring implementation of the NDP, is also required to certify all plans and budgets funded from public resources in compliance with NDPII, before parliamentary approval, in accordance with the new Government of Uganda Public Finance Management Act.

Under the first National Development Plan (2011-2015) absolute poverty had been reduced from 24.5% in 2009/10 to 19.7% by the end of 2013, while per capita income had increased from US $665 to US$788 over the same period. The NDPII is expected to shore up per capita income to US$1, 0333 by the end of 2020.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Museveni observed that more could have been achieved if the country had prioritized other areas other than consumption, which accounts for nearly Shs 3 trillion of government’s wage bill in the new financial year budget (2015/2016).

The President, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Janet Museveni, revealed that critical hindrances to development such as security, education, and road infrastructure had been successfully addressed, paving way for the country to graduate to lower income status by the end of 2020.

Within the overall framework of UNDAF 2016-2020 and UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017, UNDP’s new programming cycle, will majorly focus on democratic and accountable governance as well as sustainable and inclusive economic development. As part of its support during the ongoing country programme, UNDP took lead on behalf of the UN Country Team to provide technical input to Government to successfully complete the NDPII.

According to Ms Almaz Gebru, Country Director, UNDP, "UNDP’s financial contribution made it possible to undertake the preparation of the plan and its validation, in addition to providing technical input and coordinating other development partners to support the process”.

In his presentation of the National Budget, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija, said it is designed to fund strategic choices outlined by the NDPII.

“Madam Speaker, the budget seeks to attain a better future for Uganda and As His Excellency the President implored us in the State of the Nation Address last week, the Budget makes strategic choices that will support business and create jobs. It also seeks to improve the skills of graduates from our educational system, so that they are prepared to take on employment opportunities, and also create new businesses. Furthermore, it seeks to rebuild the health system to improve service delivery and ultimately deal with the disease burden”, the minister said.

Out of the Shs23,972 billion that was approved for the next financial year, Shs 17,329 billion will be spend by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s), which includes statutory expenditures amounting to Shs 1,148 billion. Shs 6,643 billion accounts for debt repayments plus interest on total debt. The total debt repayment includes Shs 4,787 billion meant to pay maturing domestic debt; Shs. 200 billion for recapitalization of the Bank of Uganda; Shs. 1,370.5 billion and Shs 285.7 billion for domestic and external debt interest payments respectively.